Tales of Suspense Issue 39 first impressions

"In a closely guarded lab, Anthony 'Tony' Stark shows off a new invention to US military defense officials. He has developed micro-transistors capable of powering up things such as magnets; turning them into powerful weapons strong enough to pull open a thick metal door from a distance."

A silver age comic book. The first appearance of the Invincible Iron Man from all the way back in 1963. It's crazy to believe where this character started with his origin and how he's depicted in the more modern comic books. This Jack Kirby cover shows us a very literal iron suit that was heavy and clunky but still considered an absolute Marvel for readers at the time.

I thought this was a very good read, it's a litte dated with it's dialogue and what was considered an "innovative invention" at the time (magnets) but it still tells a good story. Tony Stark has come a long way since this book, despite him still being depicted as the philanthropic ladies' man, this first appearance doesn't have much depth to the character beyond "rich inventor".

In many ways, although the 2008 film was a success and a strong start for the MCU, this book does make me appreciate how faithful the studios were to the character's origin. Even down to the detail of the original suit, it provides a great nod to the character's first appearance.

I also found that I further appreciate Yinsen in both formats as he's a very underrated character, yet so pivotal to Stark's origin. His sacrifice in both film and book allow Tony to have enough time to suit up and stop the bad guys. A theme I always enjoyed in comic books where the hero has someone who sacrifices themselves to allow them to turn a metaphorical corner in their journey to becoming something more, thus developing their character arc and they walk away with a strong sense of morality.

I enjoyed the art in this book too, Jack Kirby's illustrations are beautiful to look at on the pages, there's a nice balance of colours and they provide a really classic feel to the book. I do find that reading silver age books, compared to modern age, does take a little adjusting but it doesn't retract from the reading experience and it's thrilling to go back to where it all started for these big name characters.

I couldn't quite resonate with the villain in this book. I liked the idea he was physically beating his opponents in combat, but he wasn't a character I particularly enjoyed, especially compared to Iron Man's other enemies. But given that this was the first book, it can easily be excused.

The character of Stark himself in this book felt very different to how he's portrayed in the film. I don't feel like he has the same level of charisma or charm as to what Robert Downey Jr. provided us with in film, but having said that, this was just a first appearance and a lot can change as the stories go on.

If you're a fan of Iron Man or are curious to see how his story begun, then I would definitely recommend reading this book. It currently has a value of approximately $450,000 - $500, 000. In my opinion, I would only expect the value to increase as time goes on, especially given how the character has impacted the films in the MCU.

Reprints of the book are of course, widely available online in both digital and paperback formats, so if you're an Iron Man fan this would be worth adding to the collection.